Forum

Staffy,
Good to see you back on air!
I agree with attempts to control poaching but what is the solution? We know it is impossible to police payments and while Neil Fullerton's suggestion to impose a "third party" education qualification to eliminate foreigners could achieve this objective it has no bearing on hiring local players which is just as big a problem for many people. How many clubs resent it is indeterminable at present but surely there is enough feeling out there to put a proposal to the NCU AGM and test the water. This used to be Waringstown's territory and I suspect they still feel the same and perhaps some other clubs have now changed their stance.
Let's hear some more views on the topic.

Must say I agree totally with some of the points you make Neil, although very hard to put some of these measures in place. We need to have a strong Union that is willing to put strong rules in place which must be met by all clubs to play at all levels of Senior Cricket.

I like the idea of a 3 player under 21 rule for example. Young players and members are the lifeblood and future of all clubs and our game in Ireland. I understand that selection can be hard (younger players are normally the easiest to drop), so I would take the situation out of clubs hands with a 3 player rule. Id hate to be blocking a young players development if they have the necessary skills to play at a higher level.

I would urge clubs to see the bigger picture. If one or two clubs want to pay and offer financial incentives for their whole team then so be it, but surely this 'keeping up with the Jones's' has to stop...we cant all go chasing the dream...it does not work in my experience and i doubt even if the end justify the means???

Well done Nile, you have one that I had forgotten, Matt Horne.

That means there have been at least 21, the 12 you have mentioned plus the following 9:

India
Ashok Malhotra (Armagh)
Ashok Mankad (Bangor)
Partha Sharma (Instonians)

New Zealand
Grant Elliott (Cliftonville)
Bob Blair (Instonians)

West Indies
Herbert Chang (Donaghadee)

Zimbabwe
Gavin Ewing (Carrick)
John Rennie (Bangor)

Pakistan
Rizwan uz Zaman (Woodvale)

Anybody remember any others Nile and I may have missed?

Any more good questions on NCU cricket out there for the festive season?

Re Billy Dobbin,

The answer to your question is 'No'.

Jareth / Roger
I came up with twelve who have played ncu and test cricket.
S Singh (Bmena / india)
K More (Bmena / india)
Y Sharma (Armagh / India)
R Lamba (N Down / India)

M Horne (North / NZ)
C McMillan (CI / NZ)
A Adams (Carrick / NZ)

R Harper (woodvale/ wi)

A Raza (Woodbale / pak)

R Ratnayake (Dpatrick / SL)

A B de Villiers (carrick / SA)

C Ervine (lisburn / Zim)

I'll hand over this one to you Roger to enlighten us in your own good time!

Ps i've not included a couple of others who only played in rudi bryson's benefit match!

Happy xmas all

r.e Paul Stafford and Neil Hunter, fair enough guys.

On Ballymena surely the past 2 seasons Lazars and Aphale have both been at the club for financial reasons? Even if only one is the pro as such.

Thank you for the kind comments about Ballymena CC.
On behalf of the club I can state that we are all still very proud of our achievements back in 1998.
Unfortunately, though, as each summer passes it goes further and further into the past and the memory banks with no real hope of it being repeated in the near future.
We at Eaton Park work with a small number of players capable of performing at Premier League level and it keeps getting harder and harder to maintain our place in the top flight.
As a result we had to swallow that 1998 pride and join the rest by employing a pro for the past few years.
Personally I hate it but some at the club wanted to play and watch cricket at the highest level possible for as long as possible and felt that employing a pro would help that be achieved.
They should not - and I will not - criticise them for taking that stance.
We can't stop players being paid but we could stop the employment of numerous overseas players by introducing an education qualification. i.e. teams must play nine players in their 1st XI who had a secondary school education in Ireland.
That would leave two places open: one for a pro and one other.
We could also improve the cricketing education of teenagers by stipulating that a certain number of players aged 19 and under (maybe 2 or 3) should play in all 1st XIs.
Just a couple of ideas.
PS: To everyone within the NCU a Very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

Billy Dobbin

Disappointed to see your knee jerk reaction to Neil Hunter's point. Neil's views ARE well known and my own differ little from his. Your assertion that CI are attempting to buy the league also does not tell the whole story. Are there not players within CIYMS who disagree with the club's policy?
People can take a different view from within a club without being branded a hypocrite.
The Waringstown supporter is right saying there is a feeling you have to join them to compete. In Lurgan's case they felt they needed to bring in support from outside but as the club was new to this it didn't exactly recruit that well. In fairness we would have competed every bit as well than without those two players.

For 2014 we will do well holding onto some of our players. It is the aggressive poaching of some of the Premier clubs that is more of a threat to the smaller clubs than playing alongside overseas players.

Cricket at the top level in Ireland has undoubtedly improved out of all recognition but I believe the NCU is struggling. I played for Lisburn throughout most of the and 90's and then after a longer break played one season with Lisburn in the premier league in 2010. From these experiences, I would argue that the top 3-4 players in each club are at a much higher level than the 90s but there is no longer the same strength in depth. Most teams could put out 11 quality cricketers week in week out in the 90's but this was certainly not the case in 2010. There definitely seems to be a problem in keeping young players in the club game.

Sledge of the Ashes so far goes to Matt Prior who welcomed a struggling Steve Smith to the wicket with a provocative "You're one match away from being dropped mate."
Several hours later Smith jumped for joy after scoring an unbeaten century and could perhaps play the pivotal role in regaining the Ashes.
Thanks Matt-you are one of the game's great motivators!

You are 100% right Nile. Ballymena is living proof that you can exist on home produce and a catchment area with one overseas pro. Also, they have sustained it. What I like most about them is the way they play the game and the team spirit they show. Great bunch of guys with solid cricket people running the club and a cricket pedigree second to none.

Congratulations Ireland.
Great performance to round up another successful season. If our game is measured from the top down then the current squad and management have set a high standard.
Also, thanks for the memories Trent Johnston. I doubt if Cricket Ireland could have achieved its success in the past decade without our "extended family" so when we measure the contribution of overseas pros let's not forget what they have contributed at the highest level. Trent will always be at the top of this list for a magnificent contribution.

Great question Nile.

I've managed 20 so far. Some of them played Test cricket after they had been here, especially more recent ones, which I hope is ok.

Clue: India 6, New Zealand 5, Zimbabwe 3, Pakistan 2, West Indies 2, Sri Lanka 1, South Africa 1.

Can anyone name them?
Some of these go way back to the 70's!

No doubt I've missed a few!

great question mr smith. its maybe a gross under estimination but i have managed to piece together six test players

Christmas Quiz
Does anyone (i'm looking over at the anorak / statto brigade) know how many test players have played for NCU clubs? I've got some 'up my sleeve' but hopefully someone will provide the definitive answer.